On September 23, a public discussion titled “Understanding What It Means to Be Civilized” was held at the University of Georgia, in partnership with New Economic School-Georgia and the University of Georgia. The discussion focused on the origins, development, and contemporary significance of the ideas and values that have shaped civilization.
Together with the invited guest, Yaron Brook, Chairman of the Board of the Ayn Rand Institute (ARI) — an American nonprofit educational organization dedicated to promoting and studying the ideas of writer and philosopher Ayn Rand, who emigrated from Russia to the United States — the speakers engaged in an insightful discussion on foreign policy, with a particular focus on the Middle East.
The speakers, Yaron Brook and Paata Sheshelidze, an economist and Director of New Economic School-Georgia, discussed regional challenges and issues directly related to safeguarding the principles of a free society. “Today’s event is important because it addresses the development of free nations and freedom of choice, which are represented differently in different parts of the world — Europe and Asia. We discussed Europe’s choices, its position today, and where Asia stands, on the other hand. This is particularly significant because our neighborhood is currently caught up in what can be described as a struggle over civilization,” said Paata Sheshelidze.
During the meeting, which was held in an interactive format, the speakers engaged with the audience in discussing the contemporary challenges facing civilization and the importance of rethinking the historical experience of different peoples.
